Farrier vs Barefoot trimmer

[flirtygerty]

I think I'm asking a road I know, but here goes, I have three of my four horses BF for three different reasons, while booking an appointment with our new farrier (used once before) I asked if he did BF trims, to which he replied,"A trim is a trim and BF is a load of baloney".
I wholly agree with the BF concept and have worked hard getting diets right, farriers in my area are apita to pin down, but I don't want to risk the improvement to my TBs feet being ruined by the wrong trim.
any advice appreciated, I have a week till the farrier comes

 

[dogatemysalad]

I think you should see if he does a good job. I use farriers for my working, unshod horses and while they don't talk the talk, they've balanced their feet well.
I have found them positive about keeping shoes off mine and they've been WB's, TB's and cobs. On explaining to a new farrier that my WB had had problems when shod, his reaction was to say she was better off unshod and wearing her feet the way she needed to.
Keep an open mind before making a decision.

 

[Micky]

Agree with above, try him out first, don't dismiss him as he has trained to balance feet, i hes worth his salt, he'll be good and your horses feet will tell you

 

[flirtygerty]

Thanks for your replies, I was impressed on his first visit in his sympathetic handling of my arthritic mare and the fact he said straight out that my 3yr old cob didn't need shoes, I think, wanting to keep the BF progress going, I'm panicking a bit.
Many thanks

 

[HaffiesRock]

My new farriers first trim of my barefoot pony was a bit much and he was footy . Next time I asked her to be a little more forgiving and she did a great job

 

[flirtygerty]

Thanks HR, so should I ask him to go gently or just let him get on with it

 

[cptrayes]

Ask him not to trim sole, to trim the frog only if there are tatty bits.

 

[flirtygerty]

Thanks cptrayes, his frogs are a bit tatty, can I ask you something else, there seems to be almost a skin forming from his coronet band down approx half an inch, is this normal? TB has been BF 8 weeks now

 

[Piglet]

I personally would go for a Farrier than a bare foot trimmer as these guys have had several years of training in foot balance etc and most of them are far more knowledgeable than a bare foot trimmer who has been on a 4 week or so course. Before I am shot down in flames, there are some good bare foot trimmers

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Thanks cptrayes, his frogs are a bit tatty, can I ask you something else, there seems to be almost a skin forming from his coronet band down approx half an inch, is this normal? TB has been BF 8 weeks now

That's the periople and it is normal.

 

[flirtygerty]

Thanks Faracat, so much to learn, so little time

 

[cptrayes]

I personally would go for a Farrier than a bare foot trimmer as these guys have had several years of training in foot balance etc and most of them are far more knowledgeable than a bare foot trimmer who has been on a 4 week or so course. Before I am shot down in flames, there are some good bare foot trimmers

Your knowledge about barefoot trimming courses is as incorrect as your knowledge about what is included in the farriery syllabus I'm afraid. For more information see the other farrier vs trimmer thread that is currently running, or just check my other posts.

 

[Micky]

Agree there are some very good barefoot trimmers but there are more bloody awful ones who haven't got the years of experience that comes from training/brains and trimming/shoeing loats of different horses, saying that i know of a few or more rubbish farriers, luckily mine isn't one of them though it took a while to find him....